5-4 How We Are Organized 1st Period


Remember that anyone in your group can edit this page and make it more "accurate" or "incorrect". Only one person can edit this page at a time so don't all go to the lab and try to write this page at once. However, the final answer to your question should be the result of every group member's input. You can use the discussion tab to help come to a consensus on what should be your final result below. Do not write the answer as a group and then post the answer here. All edits, revisions and changes of opinion should occur on this page.

QUESTION:

Regarding the works of Cory Arcangel, Jonathan Harris and the OnKawara piece, is this art? (Would you call it art if it was physical?)

ANSWER:


Our class had a great discussion today trying to define what "art" is. However, I can't help but keep going back to what someone said during the discussion. Dianne (I believe) stated that artwork is defined by the artist. Therefore, in this scenario, the answer to the question above would be yes. While what the artist considers "art" may not be aesthetically pleasing to me, that has no bearing in determining whether it is in fact art. I feel that this definition is great because it leaves the definition somewhat open-ended.

Under that definition, Cory Arcangel, Jonathon Harris, and the OnKawara people all consider themselves artists, and their work art. There isn't really any point in trying to prove that it is not. How can we say any so more definitively than they can?

I think that part of the argument against these works being "art" is due to the fact that digital art is such a new and revolutionary concept. These artists, specifically Cory Arcangel, manipulate technology as a form of creative expression. Art is meant to be thought-provoking and their creations definitely are, at the very least.